Sunday, February 24, 2008

Statistics interpreted ...

Statistics don't always make sense to me unless I see a pictorial representation of them. The more I read about female foeticide, more series of numbers I find thrown my way. Sans a few figures that are so horrific that they have to leave an impact on me, I forget everything I'd read after 10 minutes of idle musing. For example, the only figures I remember now is a newspaper reporting 527 girls for 1000 males (0-6 years) in Fatehgarh Sahib region of Punjab (primarily Jatt Sikh populace), and another that listed a ratio of as low as 300:1000 in upper-class Hindu Brahmins in urban regions of Punjab. I keep regurgitating these figures to everyone I have a conversation about the issue in question lately. When I did it fifth time today when conversing with a friend over the phone, I figured it was time to bring my knowledge from the hours I spent in statistics classes and build me some graphs. In this post, I share with you my latest creation ... pictorial representation of data that is derived from Census of India 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, and 2001.

First of all, a graph representing Decadal Population Growth of India:Secondly, a graph depicting the decline in the National Sex Ratio in India for the age group of 0-6 years:Last but not the least (cliche to be excused), my interpretation of the data listed above. A graph of India's Population (positive) growth vs. Sex Ratio (negative) growth:Looking at the graphs, we certainly don't require an expert statistician to tell us that as the Indian population maintains a healthy growth rate, sex ratio is on a constant decline. My interpretation is confirmed by Mr. Sanjay Kumar when he states:

India's population stood at 1.03 billion on 1 March 2001, havingrisen 21% between 1991 and 2001. "What did not rise, but ratherdeclined shockingly, was the sex ratio," says the report.The sex ratio, calculated as number of girls per 1000 boys inthe 0-6 age group, declined from 945 girls per 1000 boys inthe 1991 census to 927 during the 2001 census.

It's sad but true...Read this: "At the Cradle orphanage in Delhi, five newborn girls are dumped in a “street crib” outside the security gate every week."....it seems the only silver lining to this cloud is adoption of these beautiful girls by NRI families from the US or UK...only if the adoption rules are eased. Read this for more information. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1627008.ece

About Me

Indian by heritage, Canadian by citizenship, currently a native of the Lone Star State of America, married to a man I madly adore, still young but soon to be old, ... and struggling with non-existent weight gain issues that every woman seems to be troubled with. :)